Statement to the Members of the Security Council Under Arria Formula by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, on the situation in Syrian Arab Republic, New York, 19 March 2018 More informationAll Stories

Zeid urges Mexican authorities to continue search for truth and justice in the case of the 43 missing students, as UN report says strong grounds to believe people detained during the investigation were tortured and this in turn was covered up.More informationAll Stories

The 2018 United Nations Human Rights Prize will be given out at the United Nations in New York on Human Right Day, 10 December, coinciding with the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Nominations are open until 6 April 2018.More informationAll Stories

Join the year-long campaign to celebrate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which turns 70 in 2018. Stand up for human rights and take action for stronger respect, greater freedom and more compassion.More informationAll Stories

News

DRC: unlawful force
A UN report documents the unlawful, unjustified and disproportionate use of force against protestors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2017, continuing this year.

Iran
UN human rights experts express concern at the continued targeting of human rights defenders in Iran, including about reports that two well-known women human rights defenders have been subjected to beatings in detention.

Civilians in Afrin
We are deeply concerned about the high risk of civilians – who are effectively trapped – being killed, injured, besieged, used as human shields or displaced as a result of the fighting in Afrin.

Double injustice
Strong grounds to believe that some of the people detained in Mexico during the investigation into the disappearance of 43 students in 2014 were tortured and that this in turn was covered up – UN report.

Honduras protests
Members of Honduran security forces used excessive – even lethal – force to control and disperse protests that erupted after the controversial presidential election, UN report finds.

Brazil killing
We condemn the murder in Brazil of Rio de Janeiro city councillor Marielle Franco and her driver. Franco was a well-known human rights defender who campaigned against police violence, and for the rights of women and people of African descent.

Saudi Arabia
UN experts express concern over the imminent execution in Saudi Arabia of a man convicted of spying for Iran, financing terrorism and spreading the Shia faith, and call on the Government to annul the death sentence.

Egypt
UN human rights experts strongly condemn a decision by the Egyptian prosecutor to seek the death sentence against photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid who was arrested while covering anti-government protests.

Expert: Cambodia at crossroads
The UN expert on the human rights situation in Cambodia has expressed serious concerns about restrictions on the media, freedom of expression and political participation ahead of a national election in July, calling on the Government to choose the path of human rights.

Civilians in Afrin
We are deeply concerned about the high risk of civilians – who are effectively trapped – being killed, injured, besieged, used as human shields or displaced as a result of the fighting in Afrin.

Double injustice
Strong grounds to believe that some of the people detained in Mexico during the investigation into the disappearance of 43 students in 2014 were tortured and that this in turn was covered up – UN report.

Honduras protests
Members of Honduran security forces used excessive – even lethal – force to control and disperse protests that erupted after the controversial presidential election, UN report finds.

Hungary hate speech
Hatred is a combustible force; and it will not win – not in Europe; and not today, High Commissioner Zeid says in an opinion piece on the stoking of hatred for political profit in Hungary.

Syria: Urgent debate
Syria must be referred to the International Criminal Court, Zeid tells the Human Rights Council, as civilians continue to be pounded by airstrikes and shelling despite a Security Council resolution.

Funding
The UN Human Rights Office thanks its donors for their commitment to human rights. We have just launched our appeal for extra-budgetary funding for 2018 – with our most ambitious target yet, amounting to USD278.3m.

Eastern Ghouta
Since the Syrian Government and its allies escalated their offensive against opposition-held Eastern Ghouta on 4 February, we have documented more than 1,200 civilian casualties, including at least 346 killed and 878 injured. This monstrous campaign of annihilation must end.

Iran
UN human rights experts express concern at the continued targeting of human rights defenders in Iran, including about reports that two well-known women human rights defenders have been subjected to beatings in detention.

DRC: unlawful force
A UN report documents the unlawful, unjustified and disproportionate use of force against protestors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2017, continuing this year.

International order expert
The UN’s first Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Alfred de Zayas, today shared his seventh and final thematic report to the Human Rights Council at an event on the margins of the Council’s 37th session.

Saudi Arabia
UN experts express concern over the imminent execution in Saudi Arabia of a man convicted of spying for Iran, financing terrorism and spreading the Shia faith, and call on the Government to annul the death sentence.

Eritrea
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation human of rights in Eritrea has deplored the arbitrary arrest and detention of hundreds people who have challenged the Government’s restrictions at a school, and expressed concerns about continued human rights violations across the country.

Expert: Cambodia at crossroads
The UN expert on the human rights situation in Cambodia has expressed serious concerns about restrictions on the media, freedom of expression and political participation ahead of a national election in July, calling on the Government to choose the path of human rights.

Niger
United Nations Special Rapporteur Cecilia Jimenez-Damary will undertake her first official visit to Niger from 19 to 24 March 2018 to assess the human rights situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country.

Egypt
UN human rights experts strongly condemn a decision by the Egyptian prosecutor to seek the death sentence against photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid who was arrested while covering anti-government protests.

Abortion access
The UK violates the rights of women in Northern Ireland by unduly restricting their access to abortion, a UN expert committee finds.

Children in detention
Ahead of a key meeting of EU institutions and Member States today, the primary UN body monitoring child rights on Wednesday urged European countries to end the detention of children in the context of migration.

Access country-specific human rights recommendations and information emanating from international human rights mechanisms in the UN system: the Treaty Bodies, the Special Procedures and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).